President Jacob Zuma’s praises sung at Women’s Day event in the Northern Cape a day after surviving an eight motion of no confidence.

Before the president could deliver his keynote address, ANC Women’s League (ANCWL) leader and Social Development minister Bathabile Dlamini, praised the “tortured and persecuted” Zuma during her address.

“Mr. President, today we feel very relevant and we feel this is a fitting event after you have been tortured and persecuted.
You have been persecuted not because you are president Jacob Zuma but because you are the president of the ANC. The enemy started with its tricks long ago and they cannot hold themselves they are not patient and prefer a coup than elections”, said Dlamini.

“Mr. President we have agreed in our NEC that we will come here in our numbers to pledge our support as the women’s league to you”, she added.

Continuing with the praises Northern Cape Premier, Sylvia Lucas also voiced her support for the president saying: “We showed them. He is our president!”

Deputy Higher Education Minister Mduduzi Manana allegedly assaulted a woman on the weekend, resulting in many calling for tough action to be taken against the minister.

In his address President Jacob Zuma said the police would prioritise crimes against women and children and anyone found guilty would face the full might of the law.

“South Africa must be safe for women and children in every corner of our country. The South African Police Service have been directed to treat crimes against women and children as apex crimes, the priority crimes. We wish to emphasise that nobody is above the law when it comes to crime against women. All persons regardless of position in society must face full might of the law when they attack women and children,” he said.

“While a lot of progress is made in making South Africa a better place for women the country faces a serious problem of violence and abuse directed towards women and girls. The country has witnessed horrific incidents recently of the killing of women by men known to them such as intimate partners and also total strangers. Several children have also been attacked and killed, these incidents have caused enormous pain and distress in the country,” he added.